Friday, December 15, 2006 :)
Metamorphosis!
A camp that started off horribly, a camp I thought would end with me feeling just ok, a camp that made me grow so much that words can't really express it. But I'll blog about it anyway.
There were many really special programmes at this camp, it wasn't like any ordinary youth camp. In fact, it was so different it pretty much overwhelmed me on the first day! I won't go into what I did everyday cos nobody will read. Yes, I know that nobody bothers. Cos I don't bother when I go to other peoples' blogs. Oops.
Anyway, every morning we had Metamorphosis, kinda like a service? But it was so interesting. Duzie Potter really used such creative and innovative ways to get the message across. And they kept changing speakers too, it really held my attention. During Metamorphosis, we were taught how to change, how to be moulded for God, and were challenged. It was really awesome.
After that was Shhh 0.5, huh what's that? Basically, everyone in the campsite was silent. Just to reflect on what had been taught in the morning. To listen to God's voice, what God had to tell us. And just to admire and bask in God's creation :) Everyday I went to the field cos it was so open and in front was a forest and all the clouds above it. Really and truly a spectacular sight, how God could create all that.
I was really struck one day how wonderful God really is. Our Creator. He creates. He is creative. Within my 20cm radius as I was sitting on the grass, I identified 9 different plant species. 9, mind you. Diversity. How in the world could God think of so much! And hello, only 20cm radius ok. Amazing :)
After that we had NET group time. A NET group comprised of around 5-6 people from the same dorm. So in my NET was myself, Lisa my wonderful aussie coach!, Vicki, Siew Lee and Rebecca. 4 really wonderful and beautiful girls :) We met up to discuss the morning's teaching, then broke up for THE BIG ADVENTURE. Which was basically QT with God, but they provided really good material, so I really heard a lot from God during that time. Yup. And it was really group bonding time too!
In the afternoons we had workshops to choose from. Ranged from politics to first aid to music lessons to dancing. Shiok. I went for stuff like Art Jam, Juggling (YES I KNOW HOW TO JUGGLE NOW WOOOO!), Pencil Strokes, Writing as a living, First Aid, can't remember the last one. But they were really really enjoyable :) woot!
After dinner in the evening was Throne Room. On the first night we had prayer. Prayed for many many things, one of which was for the HIV/Aids victims in South Africa, where one of the girls was working. As she talked about what the kids there went through, I couldn't help but cry. I was just so sad for them. She showed us a picture of her holding this 4 year old girl who couldn't stand because she was in such pain. Those children can't even blink because of the pain they go through. And it isn't even their fault that they have Aids, yet they suffer so much. There was this 14 year old boy who kept clinging to her and she just asked why. And he said it was cos she was the first friend he had, the first person who even cared about him.
It's just so sad, so painful. Thinking about it really makes me pained now. I promise you I'll do something for them when I can.
Anyway, the next few nights we had extended worship. It was simply amazing. Not just cos of the music, actually, not cos of the music at all. I was just so moved during the worship sessions. When they sang "How Great is Our God" and "How Great Thou Art" I was just smiling the whole time. The lyrics really hit me this time, how great our God really is :) Simply amazing!
On one of the nights, Dan Potter read something like what God was saying to us. I was so moved I just cried. You know, how we dance in the presence of the Lord? :) Well, "God" said, "I dance in your presence. You are my child, and you are beautiful. I step back and look at you, my masterpiece, and I am pleased." I just cried.
Sometimes I feel so ugly, so inadequate, so horrible in the eyes of man, in the eyes of myself. Yet I'm beautiful, simply because God created me. I'm his masterpiece, and He's my artist. Isn't that just beautiful? And I really felt burdened because so many other of my friends didn't know who their artist was. I promise I'll tell them about their artist.
I was really touched many times during the worship sessions. That's one of the best ways I worship, through my singing. Once I even wanted to dance, I mean, really dance. Because I was just so happy, so carefree in the presense of my Lord. But I didn't cos I figured I'd be a distraction to everyone else. So I just moved my feet :)
The Interaction Zone was open at night, it was just a place to chill out. Music, games, books, bla bla. Cool la. One night we were playing 5 way Stress. Oh my goodness. All hell broke loose, but it was so funny we all couldn't stop laughing. We based it on the last person who shouted "stress" would take the cards. Imagine that! So one guy shouted "STRESS!" and you hear "STRESS!" oh gosh, hilarious. This guy was laughing so hard he couldn't shout stress so he took all the cards. LMAO.
Anyway, I've gotta run so I'll just end. All in all the camp was wonderful, I was really sad to leave. I met some really lovely people, forged some wonderful relationships :) Really, I saw God work this camp. Work in my life. I won't let the journey end at the camp, I'm gonna continue Shhhing and all. I've formed a NET group here, that's just wonderful :) Praise God, AMEN! =D
I'm FLYING with God! =D And I'm gonna pick my friends up to fly with me =D
What, ho, what, ho, what, ho!9:48:00 pm
